Signaling device



y 1937 s. F. ARBUCKLE Y 2,088,501

SIGNALING DEVICE v I Filed. June 18, 1934 2lsh tjs h e e t 1.

INVENTOR' ATTORNEYS 1937. s. F. 'ARBUCKLE 2,088,501

SIGNALING DEVICE Filed June 18, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 50/7706 c/r/e.

ATTORNEY Patented July 27, 1937 UNITED STATES- SIGNALING DEVICE Samuel F. Arbuckle, H

signor to United ighland Park, Mich., as Lens Corporation, Detroit,

, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application June 18, 1934, Serial No. 731,015

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a combination illuminating system and particularly to a unitary combination of tail lamp, stop lamp and backing lamp, especially adapted for use with automotive vehicles.

The invention comprehends the provision of a unitary lamp structure capable of energization under various conditions to produce various illuminative qualities for affording visual indications of movement or non-movement of the vehicle as well as directive illumination under certain conditions. The invention further embraces the provision of a unitary lamp structure of this character in combination with the circuit or a system of imparting electrical energy to the lamp filament or filaments operative during a movement of one or more of the vehicle controls.

The invention is all inclusive of a unitary lamp structure embodying a plurality of filaments and a lens and color filter arrangement for indicating a visual indication preferably at the rear of the vehicle of a tail marking light, of a visual stop indication when the vehicle is being brought to. a decrease in speed operated through the brake n mechanism .of the vehicle -or other control, and a further illumination controlled by the reversing mechanism of the vehicle or other suitable means for directing sufficient illumination for the roadway to the rear of the vehicle during backing movements thereof.

A further provision of the invention is that of a unitary construction of lamp of this character wherein the entire illuminant producing arrangements are contained within a single housing and wherein through the use of color filter or filters a different character is imparted to the resulting light beams for visibly indicating vehicle movements of non-movements without the use of mov ing parts or exterior means arranged without the lamp casing. 7

A further object is the production of a lamp of this character of simplified arrangement embodying few parts, occupying a comparatively small space thus effecting material savings in the production and assembly of the parts.

A further object is the provision of a lamp having a single lens in combination with a color filter; means for producing light beams of different color characteristics for giving various visual indications.

Further objects and advantages are within the scope of this invention such as relate to the arrangement, operation and function of the related elements of the structure, to various details of construction and to combinations of parts, elements per se, and to economics of manufacture and numerous other features as will be apparent from a consideration of the specification and drawings of a form of the invention, which may be preferred, in which: i

Figure 1 illustrates an embodiment of my invention suitably adapted for use at the rear of an automotive vehicle.

Figure 2 is a front view of the device shown in.Figure l with a portion of the lens removed. 10 Figure 3 is a somewhat diagrammatic view illustrating the circuits for carrying out the functions of the illuminating system of my invention.

Figure 4 is an isometric view of a color filter and shield forming a part of the invention. 15

Figure 5 is a detail view illustrating a lens forming a part of the invention.

I have illustrated the arrangement of my in vention as utilized for a combination tail lamp, stop lamp and backing lamp for a motor vehicle, 20 but it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to a particular use but is susceptible to variations by incorporation in any arrangement wherever the same may be found to be desirable. I 25 Referring to the drawings in detail and' particularly to Figure 1, the lamp structure of my invention comprises a casing l0 preferably of circular configuration and having at its rear portion a flattened face l2 suitable for fixing the lamp 30 to a supporting bracket l3 by means of screws it which pass through slots in the bracket l2 and are threaded into openings in an inner reinforcing plate IS, the inner plate It being held to-the' rear fiat face ii of the lamp casing by means of 35 screws IT. The supporting bracket l2 may also e formed or provided with a laterally extending portion l8 serving to hold the license plate or the like.

The forward portion of the lamp is enclosed 40 by a light penetrable wall or closure preferably in the form of a lens 20 having a peripheral flanged portion 2| which sets against a gasket 22.

of cork or other suitable material, the latter in turn resting against a metal ring or annulus 23. 45 The lens 20, gasket 22 and ring 23 are secured in place on casing ID by means of a bezel or annulus 24 having at its upper portion a lug 25 which passes through a slot in the upper portion of the casing Hi to properly position the bezel with respect to the casing as well as to retain the latter in position, the lower portion of the bezel having an extension 26 provided with an opening to receive a retaining screw 21 which passes therethrough into a threaded member 28 suitably se- 55 casing cured to the casing I8 so as to provide ample threads for the screw 21. The lens 28 is preferably made of glass or other light penetrable substance having on its rear face a plurality of concentric annular prisms 38 preferably of different intensities in order to direct and reflect light passing therethrough, the lens also being provided on its front face with vertically disposed flutes 3| for laterally spreading light. In a practical embodiment of the lamp, the lens is preferably of an amber color for a purpose to be hereinafter explained.

Positioned adjacent the plate I6 is a member 32 preferably of insulating material and secured to the plate I6 a ring-like member or bracket 33 of conducting material having an upwardly angularly projecting portion 34 which serves as a socket or support for a lamp bulb 35 provided with a filament 36 forming a source of illumination. The member 33 is also formed at its lower portion with an angular projection 38 provided with an opening 48 serving as a socket forsupporting the lamp bulb 42 having afilament 43. The projection 38 serves to support one end of a color screen or cover 44 by means of a plurality of threaded members 45. The cover 44 is preferably made of a flexible transparent colored material, in the embodiment illustrated this cover is made of red colored translucent material such as a pyroxylin compound or celluloid. The other end of the cover is in engagement with the inner side of a projection 41, thereby acting as a colored shield enclosing the lamp bulb 42. As particularly shown in Figure 4, the projection 41 forms a part of the light translucent member or lens 58 which may be constructed of glass or other suitable material. Lens 50 is formed with a portion which fits the opening 52 provided in the lower portion of casing l8, and is removably positioned on casing I8 by means of the clamping members 54 and 55 which serve to compress a resilient gasket 53 located between lens flange 51 and casing I8, providing a tight engagement of the parts and forming an efficient sealing means for keeping water and moisture from damaging the parts positioned in said casing. Filament 43 of lamp bulb 42 is used when energized to provide a warning signal as a tail light marker, the filament being of a lesser intensity than filament 36 of lamp bulb 35, filament 36 being used as a stop and backing up signal when energized. The energization of filament 42 also provides means for illuminating the license plates, which as hereinbefore mentioned, may be secured to portion I8 of the supporting bracket I2 by the passage of light through lens 58.

As shown in Figure 1, the rear face I2' of the I8 is provided with an opening 68 for accommodating connecting plug 62. The plug 62 is made of a suitable insulating material and is provided with terminal contacts 63 and 64 serving as a circuit connection through means of the leads 66 and 61 to a suitable source of energy as will be hereinafter described. The terminal contacts 63 and 64, which may be in the form of sleeves, are adapted to engageably receive the terminal contacts 69 and I8, insulatingly supported on housing I8. Contacts 68 and 18 are secured to insulating member 32 and are formed at one end with enlarged head portions which are in engagement with the contact members I2 and 13 provided with bent portions adapted to engage the contacts 15 and I6 carried by the base member of the lamp bulbs 35 and 42. The contacts I5 and 16 are respectively connected with one end of filaments 36 and 43 enclosed,

'portion of arm I3 light bulbs 35 and 42, the other end of the filaments being connected to the cylindrical member of current conducting material forming part of the base portion of each of the light bulbs.

The circuits used in connection with the signaling device including certain of the control parts of an automotive vehicle which serve as the means for controlling said circuits are shown in Figure 3. In the embodiment illustrated the source of energy for supplying electric current is shown as a storage battery 88 having one terminal grounded as at 8| by means of the lead 82. The other terminal of battery 88 is connected through means of leads 84 and 85 to a switch blade 86 adapted to engage contact 81 connected by lead 61 to terminal contact sleeve 64 being in engagement with stationary contact 18 one end of which is in contact with the bent engaging the contact 16 connected to one end of filament 43 of the light bulb 42. The other end of filament 43 is connected to the outer metallic shell carried on the base portion of lamp bulb 42 which in turn is in engagement with bracket 38 grounded as at I9.

The battery is connected by means of leads 84 and 88 to a relatively stationary contact 98. Positioned adjacent contact 98 and in suitable spaced relation is a contact 9I both adapted to be engaged by a movable contact 92 insulatingly carried by arm 93.- The arm 93 is secured to a portion of the brake pedal 96 and when the latter is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow, movable contact 92 engages the stationary contacts 88 and 8| as shown in dotted lines. Contact BI is connected with the filament 36 of the light bulb 35 by means of leads 95 and 91, hence to lead 66, contact 63 cooperating contact 69, arm 12, in engagement with contact 15 of lamp base 35 hence to one end of filament 36. The other end of filament 36 is grounded as at 31 by bracket 34.

The filament 36 of lamp bulb 35 is also connected to the battery 88 through a portion of the circuit used for energizing filament 43 of lamp 42 which is controlled by switch blade 86. The circuit of lamp filament 36 including the leads 84 and 85 connected to switch blade 86 is also controlled by a switch operablebythe gear shift lever, the rest of the circuit being as follows: From stationary contact 81 by means of lead 99 to a stationary contact I88 which is suitably spaced from another stationary contact I8I both adapted to be engaged by a bridging contact I82 insulatingly carried by an arm I83 actuated by an extension of the gear shift lever I86 projecting through a suitable opening in gear shift housing I88. When the gear shift lever I86 is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow to the position shown in dotted lines, movable contact I82 engages the stationary contacts I88 and IM as shown in dotted lines. .Contact I8I is connected to filament 36 of lamp 35 by means of lead IIO connected to lead 91, hence to lead 66, cooperating contacts 63 and 69 hence to contact arm 12 in engagement with contact 15 connected to one end of filament36, the other end of which is grounded as at 31 by bracket 34. It should be noted that the energization of filament 36 by this circuit can only take place when the gear shift lever is in the position illustrated in dotted lines and when the switch blade 86 is in contact with terminal 81 which takes place when filament 43 of tail light 42 is energized.

The operation of the device is as follows: the closing of switch blade 86 of the tail lamp switch for night driving, which in the present embodiment can be accomplished manually or by other suitable means, energizes filament 43 of lamp 42 by means of current passing from the battery 86 through leads 84, 85, the closed switch, hence through lead 61 to cooperating contacts 64 and I6 connected in turn to arm I3 which is in engagement with contact I6 connected with one end of filament 43 of lamp bulb 42, the return circuit being accomplished through suitable ground connection as particularly shown by the means of bracket 38 grounded as at 16 permitting the return flow of current to the battery 86 through its ground connection BI and lead 82, connected to the other battery terminal. The flow of current through this circuit causes the energization of the filament 43 producing light rays which in passing through the colored translucent cpver 44 produce a colored light which in turn is projected and directed by lens 26. This colored light is used as a warning signal or tail light to indicate during poor visibility such 'as at night time or during fog the presence of a vehicle to other observers such as approaching drivers. In .the present embodiment the colored shade 44 changes the color of the light rays produced by filament 43 to a red or ruby color, however, this colored light is not changed or modified while passing through lens 26 which is of an amber color, the light projected from the device being of a red or ruby color. Light rays from filament 43 passing through lens 56 serve to render visible the license plate supported on extension I8 of lamp supporting bracket I2. I

When the operator of the vehicle depresses the brake pedal 96 as indicated by the arrow, movable contact 92 is urged into engagement with stationary contacts 96 and 9|, completing the circuit between the battery 86 and filament 36 thereby causing the energization of filament 36 of lamp bulb 35. As hereinbefore pointed out, filament 36 is preferably of a greater candle power than filament 43 thereby causing the projection or emission of a strong amber colored light beam through lens 26. In case the filament 43 is in operation and at the ,same time filament 36 is energized, condition which will take place at night, the light projected from the device through lens 26 is of amber color as the colored light produced by the filament 43 and screen 44 is rendered imperceptible to theobserver due to the strong illumination produced by filament 36. The color of the light projected from the signaling device through lens 26 by theenergization of filament 36 or by the illumination caused by energization of both filaments 36 and 43 as a stop signal serves to indicate to observers or approaching drivers the slowing or stopping of the vehicle, this projected light being of amber color, distinguishing the same from the tail light or warning signal, which is of red or ruby color.

In order to provide an efficient and clearly distinguishable signal from a comparatively long distance filament 36 is preferably located at the focal point of the concentric prisms of different intensity or refractive power 36, located in the rear face of lens 26, thereby serving to reflect the light rays emitted from filament 36 in the same manner as a parabolic reflector and due to the prisms of fiutes 3| in the'front face, the light passing through lens 26 is spread, thereby giving lateral illumination adjacentto the signal lamp When the pedal 96 is released or returned to its normal position, the circuit is broken by disengagement of contact 82 with the relatively stationary contact 9|, thereby disconnecting filament 36 from storage battery 86.

I When the operator desires to reverse the movement of the vehicle through the actuation of the gear shift lever I66, moving this lever in the direction indicated by the arrows to the position illustrated in dotted lines, movable contacts I62 engages stationary contacts I66 and IN and as has been hereinbefore pointed out, and if the switch blade 86 is in contact with its cooperating stationary contact 81, the energization of filament 36 will take place, the circuit being established by moveable contact I62 as follows: From one terminalof battery 86, by leads 84 and 85, to switch blade 86, in engagement with stationary contact 81, hence to lead 69, stationary contact I66 in engagement with movable contact I62, the same also in engagement with stationary contact I6I, hence to lead H6, conductor 91 and leads 66, stationary contact 69 contacting arm 12 in engagement with contact I5 of filament 36,the other end of which is connected to ground 31 through its supporting. bracket 34, the flow of current being accomplished by the return ground connection to the other terminal of the battery from ground 31 to ground BI and conductor 82 connected to the other terminal of the battery.

It should be noted that when the sources of lights are energized through the actuation of switch blade86 and gear shift lever I66 the light projected through lens 26 is of greater intensity than whenever filament 36 is energized by the brake pedal or when filament 43 is energized by the actuation of switch blade 86 due to the fact that under that condition filament 43 of light bulb 42 is energized as well as filament 36 and lamp bulb 35, the summation of the candle power in both filaments serving to project a bright light of strong amber color, enabling the driver to distinguish obstructions or objects in the rear of the vehicle so' that the same be avoided by the operator. If switch blade 86 is out ,of engagement with stationary contact 81 this circuit can not be completed, as the energization of filament only be established when the tail light or warning signal is in operation. This arrangement permits-that during the day time or when the condition of visibility is satisfactory, the reversal of movement of the vehicle by the actuation of-the gear shift lever does not cause the energization of the filament 36 of lamp bulb 35, thereby preventing the consumption of energy from storage battery 86. Whenever the gear shift lever I66 is returned to its normal position or the position indicated in full lines in Figure 3, this movement actuates arm 163 to disengage contact I02 from "stationary contacts I66 and IN, thereby breaking the circuit of filament 36 anddisconnecting the filament from storage battery 86.

From the foregoing, it will be understood that although the device includes a plurality of light;

\ It is apparent that, within the scope of the invention, modifications and different arrangements may be made other than is herein disclosed, and the present disclosure is illustrative merely, the invention comprehending all variations thereof.

What I claim is:

1. A device of the class described, comprising a housing; a light penetrable wall having a definite color characteristic constituting'o-ne part of said housing, said wall having a plurality of concentric prisms of different retractive power having a common focus; two independently usable light sources within said housing, one of said light sources located substantially at the focus of said prismatic wall, a second light source spaced from said first light source; a shield of a different color value than-the light penetrable wall interposed between said second light and said wall; said first mentioned colored wall capable of transmitting light emanating through said shield; means to energize the light source at focus to project light through said penetrable wall substantially unaffected by the color of said shield and means to independently energize said second light source to project light through said wall of different color value than that produced by the first mentioned light source.

' 2. A device of the class described, comprising a housing; a light penetrable wall having a defitwo independently usable light sources Within said housing, one of said light sources located substantially at the focus of said prismatic wall, a second light source located out of the focus of said prismatic wall; a shield of a different color .value than the light penetrable wall interposed between said second light and said wall; said first mentioned colored wall capable of transmitting light emanating through said shield; means to energize the light source at focus to project light through said penetrable wall substantially un- I afiectecl by the color of said shield and means to independently energize said second light source to project light through said wall of different color value than that produced by the first mentioned light source.

SAMUEL F. ARBUCKLE. 

